We are so excited to see that 35 students have entered the GMAU 90 Day Student Challenge. We were able to donate $350 to GlobalGiving, as promised, to help alleviate hunger and disaster relief. Now, the real work begins. Each and every student will wake up in the morning, with a real goal in their mind and body. What can I do today to get better? How hard will I push in this class, in this practice, in this punch, in this kata, in this defense?

I encourage you to learn more about the students who are participating in the challenge. Like, share, and comment on their blog posts and video updates. Let them know about your own struggles and victories. We are all on this journey of self-improvement together, especially via the vehicle of the martial arts. Here are the participants:

There we have it, what a great group of students who have entered the challenge. Keep in mind that the participants will be updating you with a new blog post or youtube video every week, throughout the 90 day challenge. Their goal is submit their next rank exam before the time is up. In late December, we will open up voting. You will be able to vote on the best student, based upon their rank exam video.

Please take time to visit their blogs, and channels. Subscribe and follow students that you want to encourage and root on, leave comments, and give each other a little push in the right direction. Learning and mastering martial arts at home is not easy. It requires so much more internal self-discipline. With a local martial arts school, you have certain days of the week that you know you have to show up for class, you could drag yourself through the door, but your instructor will teach you and get you moving. We try to do the same thing for the GMAU students, but, ultimately it is up to them (you) to turn on your phone/tablet/TV/computer, choose a class, and start training.

Remember, the first place winner will receive a $400 credit to the cruiseline of their choice (you'll want to take a relaxing vacation after all of this training), the runner-up receives a custom GMAU training kit, and all who complete the challenge will receive a special limited edition t-shirt. Let the challenge begin!

Michael Hodge

Thelma Bradshaw

I am very excited getting to see everyone in this competition. I am looking forward to seeing every post, and seeing who places 1st, 2nd and 3rd. I'm disappointed I wasn't able to compete but I am too close to taking my test for yellow chevron in Ultimate Bo. Good luck everyone! Work hard!